So, you think you have a great business idea and need to set up your own business in Japan. Setting up a company for the first time may seem like a complicated thing to do, but Japan has a relatively simple process for company registration.

​To start a small business, you can establish a sole proprietorship, but if you want to share ownership of a business, either with other partners or investors, you need to register a company.

Furusato Nozei is a kind of donation out of income tax that people offer to the local or prefectural governments of their choice, and in response, municipalities repay the donors’ generosity by sending them "thank you gifts". In most cases, the gifts are local specialties.

Foreign residents who work and pay taxes in Japan, can also participate in Furusato Nozei program and receive gifts in return for their donations.

If you are serious about your business, the answer is unequivocally "yes"! In the globally connected world of today, having an internet presence is more of a question of "when" than "why."

Many small businesses, particularly new ones, operate on a low budget. Spending money is only done when absolutely necessary, since they prioritize the urgent and necessary. So, it is understandable that some business owners may believe a website is a luxury tool they can do without.

To work in Japan, a foreigner who is not a permanent resident must first obtain a job offer from a guarantor in Japan and then apply for a work visa at the immigration office, if already in Japan, or at an embassy or consulate, if abroad.

Working visas are valid for one to five years and may be used to find work at any employer within the range of activities specified on the visa, including employers other than the guarantor.
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​In Japan, April is the beginning of the school year and the start of the year for many businesses. During this month, a large influx of foreigners arrives in Japan just in time for the cherry blossom season.

If you are one of these newcomers, you will likely have a lot of new experiences, which holds true for both the advantages and disadvantages of your new life here. It is possible that even long-term residents face issues with their families, employment, finances, or visa status.
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